A ship managed by Adnoc marks the first fully loaded LNG tanker to cross the Strait of Hormuz since the Iran war began in late February. The Mubaraz, with a capacity of 137,000 cubic meters, represents a critical development as maritime transit through this strategic waterway has been effectively halted for two months. The vessel loaded at Das Island in the UAE on March 2 and appears headed to Asia, where energy markets remain volatile.

Before the conflict, about 20 percent of the world's liquefied natural gas originated in the Middle East, with virtually all shipments bound for Asian markets. In 2025, approximately three laden LNG tankers traversed the strait daily on average, according to Kpler data analyzed by The New York Times. The closure has stemmed from US blockades against Iranian-linked vessels and Iran's attacks on commercial ships carrying energy products.

The strait's blockade has triggered energy price surges across Asia and Europe, where natural gas comprises roughly a quarter of global energy supplies. Production from Qatar and the UAE fell by nearly 10 billion cubic meters during the disruption. Asian nations heavily dependent on LNG for electricity generation have begun shifting to oil and coal alternatives or implementing consumption reductions to navigate the supply constraints.